What should I be doing with my 3 month old during the day?

Helping baby development at 3-4 months

Play together: sing songs, read books, play with toys, do tummy time and make funny sounds together – your baby will love it! Playing together helps you and your baby get to know each other. It also helps your baby feel loved and secure.

What should a 3 month old do during the day?

Do I need to entertain my 3 month old all the time?

More than just a chance to have fun, play is how babies and toddlers learn about and interact with the world around them. So they need lots of time to do it — every single day. Here's why play is so important for your child, plus how much of the day should be devoted to just having fun.

How can I stimulate my 3 month old?

Gently clap your baby's hands together or stretch arms (crossed, out wide, or overhead). Gently move your baby's legs as if pedaling a bicycle. Use a favorite toy for your baby to focus on and follow, or shake a rattle for your infant to find. Make different facial expressions for your baby to imitate.

How do I entertain my 3 month old while at work?

As your baby will want to be near you, and you'll want to keep an eye on her, place a few toys or an activity center on a play mat or in a playpen that you place right by you. This way you might be able to squeeze in some work while your little one plays next to you.

How To Play With A 3 Month Old Baby

Can I practice sitting with my 3 month old?

Around 3 to 5 months, your baby might be capable of sitting while being supported by you or a seat. They will fall if you let go, though. You may notice your 4-month-old showing interest in sitting by attempting to lift the head and shoulders while lying on the back.

What should a 3 month old schedule look like?

Ideally, your 3 month old will get an average of 4 - 5 hours of daytime sleep, broken up into 3 - 5 naps. Short naps are still developmentally appropriate at this age, so it's common to see 30 - 45 minute naps, as well as longer 1 - 2 hour naps.

How long should tummy time be at 3 months?

Experts recommend that babies work up to about 1 hour of tummy time a day by the time they're 3 months old. Make some noises or shake a rattle to get your child to look up and push up. Place a favorite toy in front of your baby to encourage reaching and forward movement.

How often should you play with a 3 month old?

But the AAP doesn't recommend any specific amount of playtime – that's up to you. As you get to know your baby, you'll learn to read their cues and know when they want to interact and play – and when they'd rather rest. Responding to your baby's signals will help the two of you bond and learn to communicate.

What milestones should a 3 month old be doing?

Your baby is learning hand-eye coordination. Lay them under an infant gym and they'll throw their whole body into batting and grabbing for the dangling toys. Hold a toy in front of them while they are sitting on your lap and let them try to reach for it.

How much should my 3 month old play independently?

When independent play begins at 3 months, they might play independently for ten minutes. By three years, they can engage in solo play for up to an hour.

How do I know if my 3 month old is bored?

Your baby will give you little clues that they're bored, such as yawning, looking away, squirming and crying. If you think your baby's bored, show them you're listening by giving them something different to do. Move them to another area of the room, pick up a different toy or just give them a little quiet time.

What colors can babies see at 3 months?

By 3 to 4 months: Most babies can focus on a variety of smaller objects and tell the difference between colors (especially red and green). By 4 months: A baby's eyes should be working together. This is when babies begin to develop depth perception (binocular vision).

Is it OK to have TV on in background with baby?

Background Noise Is Harmful to Learning

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under the age of 2 not watch any television.

What age do babies crawl?

At 6 months old, babies will rock back and forth on hands and knees. This is a building block to crawling. As the child rocks, he may start to crawl backward before moving forward. By 9 months old, babies typically creep and crawl.

What happens if you don't do tummy time?

The dangers of not doing tummy time regularly, is your baby may not develop their upper body strength and their neck muscles the way that they should. They may not hold their head up as well as others babies at their age. They can also get something called torticollis or a tightening of their neck muscles on one side.

At what age should baby hold head up?

When your baby is between 1 and 3 months old, she'll be gradually gaining the strength needed to hold her head up. By around 2 months, while she's lying on her stomach, you might notice she can raise her head for just a few seconds at a time. These brief moments help strengthen the muscles in the back of her neck.

Is it OK to let baby cry during tummy time?

A: It's normal if your baby cries or gets fussy when you put him on his tummy. Babies are used to spending most of their time on their backs, like while sleeping, or with their faces up. Plus, it takes muscles and strength for him to lift his head when he's on his tummy, which is hard work for a baby!

Can I put my baby in a Bumbo at 3 months?

The Bumbo® floor seat is a popular choice among parents and is appropriate for babies ages 3 to 12 months, or as soon as the baby can hold up their head. It's also important that your baby isn't entirely restricted in their baby chair. The Bumbo® floor seat is designed not to be totally restrictive.

How do you cuddle a 3 month old?

Bonding through cuddling, contact and facial expression

Cuddle baby close to the left side of your chest so baby can hear your heartbeat. This is good for bonding with newborns, because it helps them feel safe. Skin-on-skin contact, like baby massage, can help your baby feel secure. Always use a soothing touch.

What can a 3 month old baby do physically?

They will be waving their arms and kicking their legs strongly. If you hold them upright with their feet on the floor or your lap, they'll probably push down on their legs. A lot of the time, if they are near a dangling object, they will bat at it with closed fists.

How do I know if my 3 month old is happy?

Smiles: Babies who are well nourished and tenderly cared for will grin, smile, and light up for their special caregivers. Appetite: If he feels relaxed and comfortable and plays vigorously with crib or floor toys, your baby will nurse and eat with pleasure. Voice: Happy babies vocalize a lot. They squeal.

What fine motor skills should a 3 month old have?

By around 3 months old your baby will be able to open and close the hands, bring a hand up to his or her mouth and swipe for objects dangled nearby. Help develop these fine motor skills by offering toys that stimulate different senses and attract your baby's attention.

What toys should a 3 month old play?